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Are The "Features" Of Your Home Features The Buyers Are Looking For ?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage

When buyers are comparing homes often the decision to buy  is determined by which house offers the most features that the buyer is looking for, at the pricepoint they are prepared to pay.

 Jenny Kotulak photo, Jenny Kotulak real estate, Jenny Kotulak design, Oakville,When sellers are getting ready to list their homes, their Agent will ask them for a list of features and inclusions.  Usually the agent will do a walk through of the home, making notes of the highlights of the home.  The agent will also point out suggestions to make the home show to its best. I always ask my sellers what it was about their home that made them decide to buy it.

Often I will take those reasons and note them in the feature sheet or in an advertisement or internet remarks.  It's important to know the difference between new and newer, updated and renovated.  A renovated kitchen usually means that the whole kitchen has been replaced.  Updated could mean only new countertops and appliances, for example.

It's important to be clear when advertising these features.  Is 5 year old carpet new or newer?  What about 10 year old kitchen cabinets?

It's a known fact that the more features a home offers, the more likely the home will sell quickly for top dollar.  Buyers will visit a number of homes on the market and compare what each home has to offer. 

 Here  are some top features that today's  buyers desire in a home.  Jenny Kotulak photo, Jenny Kotulak real estate, Jenny Kotulak design, Oakville,

1. Fireplace

2. Hardwood and ceramic flooring

3. Deck or patio

4. Fenced and landscaped yard

5. Walkin or large closets

6. Air Conditioning

7. New(er) windows and roof

8. Updated kitchen and baths

9. Home Office

10. Private Yard - Quiet Street

There are often  features in a home that the seller wants to obtain a return on  investment but the buyer doesn't see the value.  If a seller pays extra to install a roof with a  40 year  instead of a 25 year life expectancy, the buyer is not usually willing to pay.  The same goes for extra insulation, indoor hot tubs, saunas, cedar closets and even swimming pools.

If the buyer isn't really looking for a home with these features but they happen to be in place they will not be deemed as features, especially if the buyer plans to remove or make changes to these items.

Every buyer has their list of needs and wants.  Most have to make compromises as most buyers are working within a budget.   If your home is on the market and it shows well, has desirable features and is priced correctly you have a very good chance that it won't take long before that For Sale sign flips over to Sold.

Comments (12)

Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Jenny, that is a good list of basic features a buyer may be looking for.  Sellers would be well advised to look at those to see which ones are obtainable to make their home more marketable.  Extras that the sellers like for themselves are great as longs as they realize they will have to be satisfied with enjoying those themselves without getting their investment back.

Dec 03, 2009 12:40 PM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Jenny - manny of the items you mention are worth udating if you are planning to sell.

Dec 03, 2009 01:31 PM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Jenny - Good list, and here in California the wants are pretty much the same.  As for new vs. newer, in our state this is particularly important because of our super-strict disclosure laws.  I recently heard of a listing agent who wound up having to buy a new stove for buyers because he had advertised it as having a new stove, but the stove was a couple of years old.  When the buyers opened the oven after close of escrow, they saw spills that were burned on and the wife was very upset.  Apparently the "new" stove that was promised had been important to her, so good old listing agent had to provide one to avoid litigation.

Dec 03, 2009 01:39 PM
Rita Fong
RE/MAX REAL ESTATE TODAY, Executive Broker 901-488-9590 - Marion, AR
Realtor - Marion Arkansas Homes for Sale

Jenny, I ask the seller the same question about what made them buy the house the first place, I want to see if we share the same opinion on the features they like.  It helps me to market and describe their house on the MLS, too. 

Dec 03, 2009 02:02 PM
Kay Van Kampen
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate

Jenny, this is a great list to give to sellers.  Ever notice the sellers willingness to point out the great things about their home and leave out what they don't like?  I sometimes have to drag it out of them.  Then we can address how to correct it.

Dec 03, 2009 10:45 PM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hi Silvia - Yes some people will overimprove their home but the buyer will only pay so much. 

Hi Kathy - You're right, sometimes just updating the flooring and painting can mean a fair bit more $$$ in the seller's pockets.

Hi Susan - That's a very good point about the stove.  Here, the buyer's agent would probably have had to pay half for not checking and making sure the buyer was aware of what they were getting.

Hi Rita - I agree I think it helps us to know the house better for marketing purposes.  Sometimes the seller will point out things I wouldn't have thought.  I like to hear from the seller that it's a great neighbourhood, friendly, caring neighbours. Close to schools and parks is also a great selling feature.

Hi Kay - Often a seller will tell me something and I tell them that since I now know I have to disclose the issue.  Leaky basement or rood, tempermental furnaces or a/c, etc. all need to be addressed before the home goes on the market.  Better to fix before a potential buyer finds the problems with the home inspector.

Dec 04, 2009 05:11 AM
June Tassillo
Owner/Broker RE/MAX Elite Realty - Franklin, NC
Let me help you with the next phase of your life!

Jenny ~  This is a keeper blog for sure.  Most home sellers don't really understand what they think is worth money does not mean more $$$ for the home or is a valuable to a buyer. 

Dec 06, 2009 08:52 AM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hi June - It's nice when you can point out things that you know buyers will really like.  I sold a house this summer and my people had made a patio and the buyers loved it and wanted the patio furniture included.  My people were happy to leave it  since they were offered full price for the house.

Dec 06, 2009 01:42 PM
Charles Stallions
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL
850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

I have the sellers write an ad as to why they bought the home then I edit it but this seems to work.

Dec 09, 2009 11:06 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Jenny, all the points that go to make a buyer's home their 'Dream home', plus understanding why the sellers bought it to begin with allows for more focused marketing. Thanks for sharing, and for the Cunningham's for the re-blog.

Dec 09, 2009 11:24 PM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hi Charles - I think engaging your clients is a great idea and shows them that you truly are working together as partners in the sale of their home.

Hi Ed, You're right.  Again I think it shows you truly want to get a handle on what that home meant to the sellers.  We know that the sellers know their home best.

Dec 10, 2009 08:30 AM
Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

Kitchens & baths are still #1 on most buyers lists, and now I'm finding finished basements are a close second. As you stated so nicely - highlight what appeals to most, that'll bring the buyers in.

Dec 14, 2009 09:26 PM